No enthusiasm for Obama

The Campaigner-in-Chief doesn’t have much to show for his non-stop politicking.

Recent primary results and polling numbers show President Obama is in serious trouble. And that’s good news for the GOP.

Compared to 1996—the last time an incumbent Democrat president was up for reelection—Obama is underperforming. In most states, he can’t even muster the same number of primary votes that Bill Clinton won.

According to Team Obama, though, they have an unprecedentedly strong turnout operation. They tout numerous state offices and claim to have countless volunteers. Nevertheless, as the Washington Post’s Aaron Blake reported yesterday, Democrat turnout “is down sharply” compared to ’96.

In that year, 50,000 Iowa Democrats caucused, according to party estimates. This year, the estimate was 25,000.

In New Hampshire, 91,027 votes were cast in the 1996 Democratic primary. This time, Democrats cast 61,777 votes.

It doesn’t stop there.

In Tennessee, 137,797 showed up in 1996. Only 89,123 did in 2012 (with 99.9 percent reporting).

Yesterday, many Alabama Democrats also expressed their dissatisfaction with Obama by staying home. In 1996, 302,038 went the polls, compared to 196,177 this time (with 97.7 percent of precincts reporting).

With such weak turnout, Obama’s reelection prospects are grim.

Recent polls further highlight Americans’ disapproval of President Obama. This week, a CBS/New York Times poll reported only a 41 percent job approval rating for the president and 47 percent disapproval. An ABC News/Washington Post poll found a 50 percent disapproval rating. And Rasmussen Reports found 51 percent disapprove of Obama’s job performance.

A new Bloomberg poll had more bad news. Obama is losing independents: only 45 percent approve of his job performance. 61 percent of Americans say the country is on the wrong track. Just 41 percent approve of Obama’s handling of the economy, while 56 percent disapprove. A large majority, 62 percent, disapprove of his handling of the budget deficit.

A Pennsylvania poll predicts trouble for Obama in the Keystone State—a state he’s counting on to win in November. 55 percent of independents there disapprove of Obama’s job performance, according to Quinnipiac, and 50 percent of independents say he does not deserve reelection.

The 2008 enthusiasm for Barack Obama has disappeared. According to a Gallup poll released earlier this month, 79 percent of Democrats were “more enthusiastic than usual” about voting in the 2008 presidential election. At the same time in 2012, only 45 percent of Democrats said they were “more enthusiastic.” Meanwhile, 53 percent of Republicans today say they are “more enthusiastic,” giving us an edge over Democrats.

That enthusiasm was on full display in yesterday’s primaries in Alabama and Mississippi. 614,490 Republican votes were cast in Alabama (with 98.4 percent reporting), setting a new turnout record. In 2008, 552,209 Republicans went to the polls.

Mississippi also saw record turnout. With 99.3 percent reporting, 283,315 Republican votes were in—nearly twice the 2008 total of 143,286.

The closer we get to November, the more Americans realize that President Obama has failed to keep his promises—on the economy, energy, the debt, the deficit, healthcare, housing and more.

As a country, we are not better off under his presidency. Our incomes are lower, but we’re paying more for groceries, healthcare, and gasoline. Now Obama is paying for his failure.

Reporting on the recent polling yesterday, the New York Times said “President Obama is heading into treacherous political ground,” adding that he is in “a dangerous position for any incumbent seeking reelection.”

When the New York Times says Obama is on “treacherous political ground” and in a “dangerous position,” you know it’s bad.